That’s how they view some issues surrounding the Division III state championship match No. 2 seed Sacred Heart will play against No. 1 Loyola Prep at Tad Gormely Stadium at 5 p.m. on Friday.

Sacred Heart (17-3-2) enters the match as a three-time defending state champion, so a feeling of been there and done that may seem possible. There’s also the challenge of going for a fourth consecutive title. The players take those notions and turn them in another direction, one preaching the benefits of familiarity and focus.

“We can’t keep thinking we’ve won three and been here before,” Martin said. “Each year is different. It helps take pressure off, but it also helps you focus (going for another).

Said Terral: “We know what to expect and how the whole state championship game day works. That’s the same, but each season is different, too. Last year I wanted to win so badly. I didn’t think I could want it more than I did last year, but this year I want it even more.”

That feeling could stem from how far the team has progressed since the start of the season when it was breaking in many new starters. While Martin helped lead the offense, the defense worked on becoming more cohesive. If it took changing formations to find what worked best, then it was done – and it worked.

Sacred Heart has won four playoff matches by a combined score of 19-2. Martin has three goals and two assists in the past two playoff matches and the Cardinals' defense has been stout.

“Our season with defense started slow.” Lee said. “We graduated some key players. We had to gain it back through younger players. The key is communication and knowing we are on the same page.”

Terral, Lee’s co-worker in the back of the Cardinals' defense, said desire also plays a huge part. Winning the 50-50 balls is an absolute must.

“The thing Miranda (Lee) and I talk about before a game and all the defenders talk about is wanting to go to the ball and be the first to it. The intensity and communication has to be high. You have to be focused and can’t have a weak moment.”

Loyola Prep (26-3-1) has made a habit of creating other teams’ weak moments this season. The Flyers advanced to their first title match since 1998 by defeating Catholic-New Iberia 2-1 in overtime last week thanks to goals by Bailey Freeman and Anna Brown. They’ve outscored their postseason foes 11-1.

Sacred Heart and Loyola met this season in November in a tournament and finished tied at 2.

“They are big and fast. Any team that gets to this point can’t be bad,” Sacred Heart Coach Tooraj Badie said. “We have our work cut out for us. We played earier this season, and both teams have gotten better.”

Badie and his players said the real key to the title match is focusing on the one thing that is controllable, and that way all other issues – familiarity, pressure of consecutive titles and a tough opponent – become side stories that will be answered.

“We have to worry about our game,” Lee said.

“It’s mostly about our game,”Badie said. “If we play our game, I will be fine win or lose. Last year was three in a row. Everybody now is talking about winning four in a row. We came in November and set a goal to win state. If we lose Friday, it’s still been a great accomplishment this season. It’s not easy making a state title game in consecutive years. I have nothing to complain about.”

Still, the talk of four consecutive titles can be hard to completely ignore.

“It brings a little pressure, but it also makes it exciting,” Terral said.